Pill dispense units



Aug- 9, 19 0 R. HORLAND PILL DISPENSE UNITS Filed May 7, 195a /////////////IA I .1 71/11 Ill/Ill! INVENTOR. RICHARD HORLAND ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 9, 1960 PILL DISPENSE UNITS Richard Horland, 29 Crestinont Road, West Orange, NJ.

Filed May 7, 1958, Ser. N0. 733,731

1 Claim. (Cl. 206- 42) This invention relates generally to dispensers, and more particularly to a dispenser for pills, tablets, etc.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing device for tablets, such as aspirins, etc., which device will be designed to facilitate the dispensing of an individual tablet, with a minimum amount of effort on the part of the user.

Heretofore, containers for aspirins and tablets have generally comprised, when designed to be carried about in the pocket, flat receptacles having lids, with said lids being hinged to swing to open position. When the lid is opened, all the tablets are exposed, and an accidental jarring or dropping of the container results in all the tablets therein being lost. Further, opening the lid is often very difficult, in view of the extreme flatness of the container, as a result of which it is hard to obtain a good grip upon the container.

The main object of the present invention, in view of the above, is to provide a generally improved container for tablets of the type described above. The container may be designed to be that in which the tablets are sold, being of the dispensing type and being so formed as to permit the dispensing of an individual tablet.

Another object is to insure that only one tablet will be exposed for dispensing, thus to eliminate any posibility of loss of the other tablets.

Another object is to provide a path of movement within the container for the tablets, which path will be tortuous, in a manner to continuously feed the tablets in a direction toward the dispensing opening of the container.

Another object is to permit full visibility of all tablets within the container, so that one can immediately observe the extent to which the contents. of the container have been depleted.

A further object is to provide a dispensing device for tablets including a closure for the dispensing opening, which closure can be operated between its norm-ally closed and its open positions by the hand that is grasping the container, thus to permit one-hand operation of the dispensing device so as to free the other hand for grasping a tablet when it has been moved into position ready to be taken out of the container.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a materialpart of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of tablet dispenser according to the present invention, tablets being shown therein.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

'Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the same cutting plane as Fig. 2, the closure being manipulated to a position permitting removal of a tablet or pill.

of longitudinal partitions 18, 20.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional'view substantially on line 6-- 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7' is an enlarged, fragmentary, exploded perspective view of the dispensing end of the container together with the closure.

In Figs; 1-7, the dispenser 10 constituting the present invention includes'a flat, transparent, generallyrectangular container having an elongated bottom wall 12 spaced from a' correspondingly shaped top wall 14 by means of a peripheral wall 16. A' plurality of tablets T are disposed bet-ween the bottom and top walls, and the container are caused to follow -a tortuous path by means These are spaced transversely of one another within the container in parallel relation to the longitudinal edges of the dispenser. The partitions extend in opposite directions from opposite ends of the container and terminate, in each instance, short of the other end of the container. Thus, a tortuous path is provided, along which the tablets travel in the direction shown by' the arrows in Fig. 2, to a dispensing opening 22 normally closed by a closure generallydesignated 24.

The closure extends fully across one end of the container, and slides in a direction transversely of the container between the full and dotted line positions shown in Fig. 2.

The closure is shownto particular advantage in Fig. 7 and includes a channel member 26 having side walls 28 formed along their top edges with confronting longitudinal flanges 30 integral at one end with end flanges of abutments 32, the channel member 26 being open at this end as shown at 34 in Fig. 7.

The web portion 36 of the closure is integrally formed, at the other end of the closure member, with an upstanding spring tongue 38. This projects above the side walls 28, which are spaced outwardly from the opposite sides of the spring tongue by narrow spaces 40. Immediately adjacent the spring tongue, the side walls are deeply recessed or indented at 42 to provide clearance for ones thumb and finger when a tablet T is to be removed.

Integrally formed upon the outer surfaces of the top and bottom walls are guide ribs 44, terminating short of the opposite sides of the dispensing container. Formed in one side of the container is a shallow recess 46 communicating with the opening 22 to provide clearance for the tongue 38. The recess 46 is adapted to receive the edge portions 48 of the top and bottom walls disposed at opposite sides of the opening 22. Tongue 38 fits snugly in the opening 22 as clearly seen in Fig. 2, when the closure is in its normal, closed position.

The closure embraceably engages the adjacent end of the container, with the ribs 44 being slidably engaged with the undersides of the flanges 30.

In use, the closure is moved to its closed position, and is limited against movement to the left in Fig. 2 beyond its closed position by engagement of the tongue 38 against the edge wall of the recess 46. When a tablet is to be dispensed, the closure is manually shifted to the right in Fig. 2 to the dotted line position, sliding upon the ribs 44 until flanges 32 engage the left-hand end 50 of the ribs 44. At this time, the closure will be in the dotted line position of Fig. 2. The foremost tablet T may now roll outwardly upon the closure through opening 22, but cannot be completely removed until one grasps both sides of the tablet, and exerts a positive upward force thereon in open position is so located that the tongue is spaced from the adjacent wall of the dispensing container a distance less than the diameter of the tablet. This may be readily noted by reference to Fig. 2. Only when the tongue is flexed against the inherent spring tension thereof can the tablet be removed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A dispenser for tablets and the like comprising a rectangular fiat container having partitions defining a tortuous path for movement of the tablets therethrough and having a dispensing opening at one corner thereof, a

closure device for said opening slidably mounted on one 20 end of the container, ribs along the outer surfaces of said one end of the container, said closure device including an elongated channel-shaped member having a Web portion, side walls and inwardly extending flanges at the free recesses adjacent the closure tongue whereby the contents dispensed through the dispensing opening and held by the closure tongue may be grasped by the fingers of the user and removed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,764,352 Sacerdote June 17, 1930. 2,103,520 Donnelly Dec. 28, 1937 2,309,111 Hothersall Jan. 26, 1943 2,340,636 Apfelbaum Feb. 1, 1944 2,377,120 Apfelhaurn May 29, 1945 2,722,309 Waterman Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 989,125 France May 23, 1951 

